Regular classes vs AAP

[Anonymous]

AAP was school the way I remember school with expectations including reading chapters from books in preparation for the next day's discussion. The difference was that I didn't have advanced math but I had spelling tests, geography quizzes, had to memorize math facts, sentence structure, science fairs, etc.

This was a great escape when our Title 1 school had most kids below grade level coupled with behavioral issues. Not that AAP had no behavioral problems, there were just fewer. Most parents were very involved, too.

The kids were very interested in reading on their own just because they enjoyed the stories. They would talk about the books amongst themselves. Great environment for my book lover.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All of my kids attended an AAP center as gen ed kids and did well. You can never tell the difference between the AAP kids and the non-AAP kids once they get to HS.

Absolutely this. Which is the biggest reason of all for not separating/segregating two very similar groups of kids in elementary and middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve had kids in both. Academically the math is advanced in aap, but your kid can also test into advanced math from gen Ed, but it’s a pain because you have to retest every year.

Other than that, there is very little to no difference academically.

Socially it is night and day. It is really a social program to get your kids grouped with the other kids of parents that care about education.

What on earth are you talking about? What a stupid comment. Parents of Gen Ed kids care just as much about education as any other parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AAP was school the way I remember school with expectations including reading chapters from books in preparation for the next day's discussion. The difference was that I didn't have advanced math but I had spelling tests, geography quizzes, had to memorize math facts, sentence structure, science fairs, etc.

This was a great escape when our Title 1 school had most kids below grade level coupled with behavioral issues. Not that AAP had no behavioral problems, there were just fewer. Most parents were very involved, too.

The kids were very interested in reading on their own just because they enjoyed the stories. They would talk about the books amongst themselves. Great environment for my book lover.

The bolded is exactly how I remember school as well - and how school should be for *everybody*. It's disgraceful that FCPS has gotten rid of so many basic academic standards and replaced them with busy work and computer surfing.

[Anonymous]

OP here.
What are some of the things parents of regular Ed (non AAP) kids doing to motivate their kids to do better and better each grade? Does FCPS post the curriculum or study material for AAP that Regular ED kids can use for self-study?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.
What are some of the things parents of regular Ed (non AAP) kids doing to motivate their kids to do better and better each grade? Does FCPS post the curriculum or study material for AAP that Regular ED kids can use for self-study?

Yes, FCPS posts the curriculum but it's relatively hard for a normie to understand. My kid didn't get into AAP and she fell behind in 1st-2nd grade because of COVID so I've had tutors for years and had to learn this stuff. I keep her motivated by explaining I expect her to learn what they're teaching her. She's not in advanced math and that's okay. It's more important to me that she learns the basics WELL.

Some teachers will send you study guides for what your kid is doing that week/month and some won't. It's very teacher specific. What I've found to work is getting a subscription to IXL (or one of their grade level books on amazon) and just looking up the standards for what unit my kid is working on and finding practice questions at home for her to review. It's easier for me to do it via IXL cause they have state-level breakdowns of the units so you can just click on things. (My kid is in 5th now so I've been using this link this year. https://www.ixl.com/standards/virginia/math/grade-5?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.
What are some of the things parents of regular Ed (non AAP) kids doing to motivate their kids to do better and better each grade? Does FCPS post the curriculum or study material for AAP that Regular ED kids can use for self-study?

It's the same grade, all 3rd graders are learning the same things. There are differences in how critical thinking is taught, the use of primary sources, etc. This isn't necessary to give a child a good education.

What is necessary: As a parent, have high expectations, that your DC will learn in school, will do her work and ask for help if she needs it, from the teacher, from a parent, from someone else.

[Anonymous]

AP and honors classes in high school are full of kids who weren’t in AAP. It doesn’t seem like it matters that much long term.

[Anonymous]

The only four kids from our high school who got into Ivies last year were never in elementary and middle school AAP. It’s all just a big ruse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.
What are some of the things parents of regular Ed (non AAP) kids doing to motivate their kids to do better and better each grade? Does FCPS post the curriculum or study material for AAP that Regular ED kids can use for self-study?

Gen ed gave my kids the space to become more confident in the basics, such that by the time middle school and high school came around, they felt more comfortable taking more challenging classes. In high school, they were taking the same classes their former AAP peers were taking, and doing just as well.

[Anonymous]

I like hearing this because I agree

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only four kids from our high school who got into Ivies last year were never in elementary and middle school AAP. It’s all just a big ruse.

That is encouraging.
OP here.

[Anonymous]

Regular has ESOL, Sped and more minorities. If your try to avoid those aim for AAP.

[Anonymous]

Do what’s best for your kid. I have a kids in each and AAP center was absolutely the right option for our kid that qualified. So amazed at the education they are getting.

[Anonymous]

There are AAP kids who turned snooty and outright stated that they were smarter than the GenEd kids. They picked on the GenEd students at lunch, in hallways, making them brunt of jokes and put downs. Meanwhile, we see tremendous compassion and patience extended from the GenEd students who learn to cheer on dyslexics, ESOL, and SpEd. While the AAP kids picked up on the ‘walk all over’ attitude of their parents, the GenEd students shined with a resiliency and caring attitude. This built the GenEd up in the formative years and took them to the Ivies.